Girocard, debit card and credit card: The differences

In short: All three pay cashlessly but differ in when the money is debited, where they work and what protection they offer.

In more detail: A card for paying is not just a card. The differences decide whether you can pay abroad, online or at car rentals and hotels, and what happens in case of misuse.

In Depth

Girocard (formerly EC card)

The German bank card for a current account. The amount is debited immediately from the account. It works almost everywhere in Germany and at ATMs. Abroad and online it is often unusable because the pure girocard system is hardly widespread there. Many cards therefore additionally carry a Visa Debit or Mastercard Debit (Debit Mastercard) logo and can then be used internationally.

Debit card (Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard)

Looks like a credit card but, like the girocard, debits promptly from the current account, without a credit line of its own. It works worldwide and online. At hotels and car rentals a deposit (reservation) is often blocked on the card, which with debit cards directly burdens the account.

Credit card

With a real credit card the bank grants a spending limit. Transactions are collected and usually billed once a month (charge card) or can be repaid in instalments (revolving card, with high interest). Advantages: payment even with a limited account balance, often insurance and deposit options. Disadvantages: annual fee with many providers, temptation to go into debt. Mastercard and Visa are the big networks; American Express sometimes has less acceptance.

Security and tips

In case of unauthorised debits block the card immediately (emergency number 116 116) and report it to the institution. In case of misuse without gross negligence the cardholder generally has limited liability. Contactless payment is possible without a PIN up to a certain amount. Online, strong customer authentication (app approval) protects against fraud. For young people there are prepaid or debit cards with a limit. Check fees for foreign currency and cash withdrawal abroad.

See also: Online banking and paying online, IBAN and SEPA, Visa, Mastercard